osborne



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J W OSBORNE MOVEMENT CURB. APPARATUS.

No.5ozsvs.

(.No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 2. J'. W. OSBORNE.

MOVEMENT CURB APPARATUS: No;502,578. Patented Aug. 1, 1893.

-(No Model.) A V 3 Sheets-Sheet? J. W'. OSBORNE.

MOVEMENT CURE APPARATUS.

No. 502,578. Patented Aug. 1, 1893 ff-Z UNITED. STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JOHN W. OSBORNE, OF WVASHINGTON,-DISTRIOT OF COLUMBIA.

MOVEMENT-CORE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,578, dated August1, 1893.

Application filed July 9, 1387. Serial No. 24334 3. (N0 model.) i

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN ,W. OSBORNE, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vibrators for theMechanical Treatment of Invalids; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention is related to many contrivances used in the applicationof passive gymnastics. Its special object is to impart vibrationsvarying in kind, rapidity, and intensity, to all parts of the body in 'asimple, convenient, and effective manner.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1, representsthe vibrator in elevation as seen from the right side, Fig. 2, is asimilar view from the left. elevation from the back, and Fig. 4,'is aplan of the base, showing the main upright in section, its upper partand attachments being removed. Fig. 5, is a combined section andelevation representing the two revolving heads in position. Figs. 6, and7, are front eleva tions of the same removed from the instru-'' ment.Fig. 8, is a side elevation of the adjusting disk. Fig. 9, is a sectionthrough the arm-clamping device. Fig. 10, is one of the pitman headsemployed. Fig. 11, is a section showing the clamping device for thecasters. Figs. 12, and 13, are attachments used for imparting thevibratory movement. Fig. 14, is a long interpolating spring for thepitmanhead.

This vibrator is designed to accommodate itself in location and form, tothe position of the patient to be operated upon, whether standing,sitting, or lying. Its frame consists of an upright 10, on atriangular-base 11", which stands itself on three casters 12. Thevertical position of the upright 10, is maintained and its greatstiffness and firmness secured, by the triangular piece 13, whichcrosses the base and is made fast at right angles to it and to theupright 10. The upper part of 10, is semi circular and stands nearlyfour feet from the floor. To it the arm 14, is attached, in such a waythat it can swing in the same plane, from its lowest position,

Fig. 3, is an.

. shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to the highest, seen in Figs. 2, and3, and even over farther toward the back if desired. In any positiongiven the arm 14, it can be clamped fast. This is an important featureof the instrument, because of the very great steadfastness and rigiditywhich is indispensable in an instrument of this kind. The Wayin whichthe clamping is effected will be best understood by consulting Fig. 9,which shows the parts in vertical section. The upright 10, and arm 14,are here shown only in part.

The heavy cast iron bolt 15, has a large flange 16, by which it isscrewed firmly to the swinging arm. The cylindrical part of the boltpasses through the upright 10, turning freely in the round opening madefor it, the screwed portion extending beyond the wood. The nuts 17,bears against the large washer 1S, and when the lever 19, is depressed,the flange 16, and the washer 18, are drawn forcibly together and thearm and upright clamped strongly between them. To make the swingingmotion of the arm easy and smooth, the counterpoise 20, is attached, invirtue of which the arm 14,with all its attachments will stay passivelyin any position in which it may be placed. Furthermore, the innersurfaces of the -upright and arm, have large disks opposed to eachother, one of sheet metal and one of woolen cloth [indicated at 21, Fig.9,] which establishes a soft contact and uniform friction between them,and does not interfere with, but rather aids, the firm clamping of thetwo surfaces together, by means of the lever 19.

The arm 14, carries on its outerand smaller end the reciprocatingapparatus which originates the .vibratory movement, which forms the moreessential part of myinvention. This consists of two heads of metal 22,provided with crank-pins 23, attached to the ends of the short shaft24,and driven by the pulleys 25, or 26 as desired. With these pulleys thesmall fiy-wheel 27, may be connected, either by the flat belt 28, or theround one 29, according to the speed required. The fly-wheel is rotatedby the handle 30. It turns upon the taper bolt 31, which screws firmlyinto bolt 15.

When the flat belt is used, the guide-pulleys 32, are desirable, so asto change the direction thereof, and grasp the little pulley 25,

well. These guide pulleys are mounted on the swinging arm14, by means ofpins or bolts which are removably inserted in any one of the holes 60,provided for this purpose. The guide pulleys may, therefore be shiftedto different places on the swinging arm 14, and are thus convenientlyused as belt tighteners. To originate vibratory impulses, itis onlynecessary to place the crank-pins 23, eccentrically with reference tothe center of motion, and in doing this, one or both of the heads 22,may be called into action in away tobe hereinafter explained. Both headsare constructed alike, except that in one case the scale counts fromright to left, and in the other from left to right; and I now proceed todescribe the way in which the stroke of the crankpin in either of themcan be changed from zero, to about two and one-half inches which isusually more than enough, even when the most violent vibrations aredesired. In Fig. 6, a front elevation of one of the heads is shown; thediameter of which over all is about four inches. Within the raised ring33, the fiat adjusting disk 34, may be turned. This disk is shown inelevation in Fig. 8. It is made with slightly tapering sidescorresponding in angle with those inside the raised ring 33; into whichit fits exactly, without lying on the bottom; and it carrieseccentrically on its face the crank-pin 23. In the middle of this diskthe shouldered part of the locking screw 35, is fitted, the screwed endof which enters the tapped opening 36, in the center of the raised ring33, shown in Fig. 7. When the adjusting disk 34, is in its place and ismade to turn through one revolution, the axis of the crankpin 23, is soplaced that it will be found to pass exactly overthe center of the shaft24, the screwed end of which appears through the tapped opening 37, Fig.7, flush with the bottom of the cavity formed by the raised ring If theadjusting disk be locked in that position by means of the screw 35, thecrank-pin will be practically an elongation of the shaft, and thereforeif the latterbe driven there will be no stroke. But every other place inwhich the crank-pin can be fixed will give a stroke the length of whichwill be double the distance of the axis of the crank-pin from the axisof the shaft. If therefore, the diameter of the circle described by thecrankpin when it is carried once round by the disk 34, be one andone-fourth inches the maximum stroke of the instrument will be two andone-half inches.

In the drawings Fig. 6, shows the adjusting disk in place. The stroke inthis case is zero as indicated by the pointer, and the scale on the edgeof the raised ring. This scale, though consisting apparently ofgradually increasing divisions, gives in reality lengths of stroke whichincrease from zero by aconstant increment'namely, one-tenth of an inch.To construct a scale of this sort, the distances from the zero point,[fixed upon anywhere at the junction of the raised ring 33, and disk 34,when the crank-pin is central over the end of the shaft 1,] are laid.off by a series of chords, emanating therefrom, and having a constantincrement of increase. In Fig. 7, such chords for evennumbersonly,areshown as dotted lines. When it is wished to adjust theinstrument for a particular stroke, the locking screw 35, is slacked,the disk 34, then turned till the arrow upon it points to the number oftenths desired, and then screw 35, screwed up again firmly.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that each of thetwo crank or wrist pins can be adjusted to any desired length of stroke,independently of the other. Consequently the adjustment may be such thatthe reciprocations produced by one pin will be synchronous'with thereciprocations produced by the other pin, that is to say, that thereciprocations of the two pins may begin and terminate at the samemoment. The adjustment may, however, be so that the beginning of thestroke of one pin does not coincide in time with the beginning of thestroke of the other, so that there will be a diiference in the phases ofthe strokes of the two pins. In this manner a great variety of noveleffects upon the patient can be produced.

As will be afterward explained, the strain upon the crank-pin tending tomake it change its position is at times very considerable; hence it isnecessary the friction produced by tightening up the screw 35, should bevery considerable. For this reason the outside edge of the adj ustingdisk, and theinside of the raised ring which receives it are made, asbefore explained, slightly conical, so that the screw 35, forces thedisk into the cavity as if it were a wedge, which accordingly bears hardupon the sides. This manner of locking the crankpin in position, is mosteffectual, quick and simple, requiring but one movement; but, asdescribed, there is some dangerthatthe disk may become too thoroughlyjammed into the cavity, and revolve therein with great diiliculty. Iprevent the occurrence of such an evil, by placing under the adjustingdisk, a circular piece of woolen cloth, which may be supplemented withpaper or other thin material until exactly of the proper thickness. Whenthe screw 35, is tightened the woolen cloth is compressed till theconical sides of the disk jam in the cavity, but subsequently, when thescrew is released, the woolen cloth acting as an exceedingly strongspring for an exceedingly short distance throws the disk up and out ofthe conical cavity and frees it. The cloth acts against the Whole of theunder surface of the disk much as if it were an elastic fluid.

The little shaft or spindle 24, is of hardened steel and runs in conicalbearings 38, which can be brought together after any wear has takenplace, so as to prevent a shake. The two heads are screwed on theprojecting ends of this spindle and are kept from working off by theinsertion of a little screw 39, seenin IIO Figs. 7, and 5. The disks areplaced so that the projecting ring and disk of one, balances the other,and the scales are so divided and numbered that if at one side thecrank-pin is moved to the right, on the other head it will have to bemoved to the left to reach thesame number, which insures the importantcondition, that a line from the axis of one crank-pin to the other, willpass through the axis of the shaft.

Each of the crank-pins carries as shown on a large scale in Fig. 5, thepitman heads 40. Fig. 10 makes intelligible the manner in which theseare constructed. This is a mat ter of some importance because it isimpossible to prevent their being subjected to careless usage. Thematerial best adapted for this part of the instrument is hard wood, butwere this used alone, it would be frequently broken, in consequence ofthe leverage which may be exerted upon it; but this I prevent byinterpolating the strong spiral spring 41, which terminates in the screw42, to which all the attachments used in conveying the vibrations aremade fast. The spring 41, performs in this place a double function.Acting as a peculiar kind of universal joint it hinders the evil effectsof careless movements imparted to the attachments, which will bepresently described; but also, being interposed between thereciprocation of the crank-pin and the body of the person acted on, itsoftens and modifies the blow or rubbing contact and this to an extentwhich depends upon its stiffness and length.

Fig. 14, represents a long spring which may be made to take the place ofspring 41, or may be used with it according as it is attached at 43, or42.

In communicating vibrations, this instrument should be rolledup on itscasters to a suitable position near the patient; the arm 14, should thenbe placed at a proper eleva tion, and. the proper attachment screwed onby means of which connection is established between one or both of thepitman heads and that part of the body which is to be affected. Thecharacter of the vibrations imparted may differ very materially; thatis, first,- they may be percussive; consisting of a number of shortperpendicular blows given with great rapidity. This would be the case ifthe light ball 47, and thin steel rod 48, shown in Fig. 13, wereemployed in such away that the rod stood perpendicularly from the partreached by the ball; or, second, they may be frictional; which is theirgeneralcharacter when the terminal, of whatever shape it may be, isallowed to rub in a direction parallel to the surface; with, at the sametime, more or less perpendicular pressure applied thereto. This would bethe case if the ball 4?, taken upward from the arm 14, in the dottedposition given it in Fig. 1, were pressed against the abdomen orback ofa patient standing; or, third, the vibrations may be essentiallytractional in their nature. This is the method generally followedbythose who use my invention when large and heavy portions of the bodyhave to be thrown into rapid motion. If a strap for instance be buckledaround the thorax of a person in a sitting posture, and then attachedto. one of the movable hooks 49, as shown in Fig. 10; or into thehook-of the long spring shown in Fig. 14, the agitation of the whole ofthe upper part of the body, including the internal organs, will beeffected; lastly, the vibrations may havev a positively reciprocatingcharacter; that is, the part of the body involved, may be either pulledor pushed alternately in opposite directions. In this case lessdependence is placed upon the natural tendency of the tissues of thebody to recover their normal position when displaced, and as far aspossible impulses are given in both directions. Thus, two rods withballs or analogous terminals may be used, one from each crankpin, at thesame time; or, a sling as shown, hanging from the two crank-pins in Fig.1, may be caused to encircle some part of the body. Each end will thenbe alternately pulled, as the result of the eccentricity given to thecrank-pin; in a manner that will be readily understood. If for instance,the calf of the leg be placed horizontally in the sling, hanging-asshown, and a stroke of one inch be given to the crank-pins, the heavymuscles,

resting on the flexible leather or webbing will be pulled first to theright and then to the left, to that extent; a treatment which willinevitably give rise to very distinct physiological effects in the partsacted on. Or a similar but longer sling, [see Fig. 12, in which twoviews of such a device are shown] may be placed horizontally about theloins; or across the abdomen, whereby the soft parts so grasped will beobliged to make more orless rapid reciprocations, with an amplitudevarying from nothing to upward of two inches, according to the wish ofthe operator.

Of course a great variety of attachments, differing in size and form,but subject all of them to the principles herein set forth, may beinterposed between the heads 22, or one of them, and the patient. Inthis specification only such typical forms have been described andshown, as were necessary to render clear the application of thisinvention, to the purposes for which it is intended, and to makecomprehensible the function of the included spring 41, which acting as auniversal joint with a constant tendency to recover its position,obviates the necessity for absolute precision in placing the patient,and saves the several parts of the apparatus from the injury which wouldfollow careless lateral movementsof such an attachment as that shown inFig. 13.

In using this vibrator the-operator should in most cases stand upon thebase 11, the same being especially designed for that purpose. By doingthis-he adds his own weight to that of the machine, and steadies it mostthoroughly. From such a position the handle 30, can be easily andconveniently reached, as can also the brake-lever 19; while the operatorsteadies himself besides by grasping the handle 44, at the back, whichis put there for that purpose, and for moving the vibrator about. Itfrequently happens however, that two operators are required to use themachine; one to supply the motive force, and the other to take charge ofthe attachment and its application to the patient. In such case it iscommon to free the arml4, altogether, and then holding the same by thegrip located at 45, with the one hand, and directing the ball on the endof the rod [or its equivalent] with the other, a number of places on thebody can be subjected to vibratory treatment successively and in acertain sequence. By the accommodation thus provided, namely, by lettingthe arm 14, swing upon its axis at the same time that the pitman doesthe same upon the crankpin, a vibratory movement can, for instance, becommunicated to the whole length of the spine up and down; withoutstopping or shifting the position of the machine.

The vibrator I have invented may obviously be used without casters,though great convenience is sacrificed thereby. On the other hand, whencasters are employed, provision has to be made to keep the instrumentfrom rolling forward or backward when required to be fixed andmotionless. This I accomplish as follows: Above each of the two castersunder the back part of the base 11, I place in the thickness of thewood, two little rods or plungersylti, which have at one end aprojecting collar, and at the other, lower, end an inserted piece ofthick leather. Under the collar and resting upon the wood a strongspiral spring 50,is placed,which lifts and maintains the leather oif thecasters. The wooden flap 51, hinged at 52, extends over the rods 46, andrests upon them, while the flap is kept from rising by the wood-screw53, which passes loosely through the same and is screwed into the base11. It will be seen that this arrangement does not affect in any way theeasy 10- comotion of the vibrator, but when the operator stands upon theflap 51, he brings down with considerable leverage the leather-tippedrods on the casters and effectually hinders their revolution as long ashe remains standing thereon, converting the same for the time being intoprojecting feet.

In addition to the several ways in which the vibratory impulses may beimparted to the patient, and the amplitude which may be given to thesame, theelement of speed has to be taken into account. In this regard agood deal can be done by turning the fly-wheel fast or slow, but verydesirable provision is made for much greater differences, ashereinbefore stated. This consists in running the flat belt 28, over thelittle pulley 25, or the round belt 29, over the large pulley 26. Thesealternative ways of driving .the heads give a great range of speed,varying from 8, to 12, reciprocations per second, with the slow speed to40, 50, or even in the same time when the fiat belt is used. Verydifferent physiological eltects are the result of such differences inspeed, but they cannot be discussed here.

In the foregoing an approximately triangular base has been described forthe support of my vibrator. This is not of course an essentialcondition, but a very desirable one, because by supporting theinstrument on three points, it is always steady however bad the floormay be, and because that form makes it possible to push the vibratorinto places near the patient which could not otherwise be easilyreached.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of practically makingand applying the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrictmyself to the specific details of construction, well knowing that thesame may be varied indefinitely without affecting the principlesinvolved.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vibrator, the combination of a rigidly supported upright, withan arm pivoted thereon movable in a vertical plane, and lookingmechanism for securing it in any adjusted position, and withreciprocating mechanism mounted on the end of said arm, and a fly-wheelor pulley for actuating said mechanism; substantially as described.

2. In a vibrator, the combination of a flat base adapted to carry theoperator standing thereon, and sustaining an upright, rigidly connectedthereto; with an arm swinging on said upright, and bearing driving andreciprocating mechanism; substantially as described.

3. In a vibrator, an arm pivoted upon asupport and carryingreciprocating mechanism;

in combination with clamping mechanism for holding the swinging armrigirll y against said support in any desired position; substantially asdescribed.

4. In a locomotive vibrator, the combination of a platform carrying thevibrating mechanism and provided with casters; with brake plungers forthe caster wheels and a lever flap folding over the platform andactuating the brake plungers by the weight of the body of the operator,substantially as described.

5. In a locomotive vibrator, the combination of a platform carrying thevibrating mechanism and provided with casters; with spring mounted brakeplungers for the caster wheels, and a lever flap folding over theplatform and actuating the plungers by the weight of the body of theoperator, substantially as described.

6. In the reciprocating mechanism of a vibrator, a rotary head with acircular disk eccentrically journaled in the same, a wrist pinprojecting eccentrically from the disk, and a IIO single clamping screwfor fixing the disk in its bearing in any adjusted position,substantially as described.

7. In the reciprocating mechanism of a vibrator a revolving headprovided with a conical adjusting disk, fitted into a conical cavityplaced eccentrically on the face of the disk, as described; said diskbearing an eccentrically placed crank-pin, and a central clamping screw;as set forth. I

8. In the reciprocating mechanism of a vibrator, the combination of arotary head,and an eccentrically mounted rotatable disk carrying a wristpin eccentrically mounted thereon, whereby the length of stroke of thepin can be adjusted; with a scale on the head representing rectilineardifierences of stroke, substantially as described.

9. The reciprocating mechanism of a therapeutical vibrator comprising arevolving head formed with a conical cavity eccentr'ically disposed inthe head, a conical disk journaled in said cavity and having a crank-pineccentrically mounted thereon, an elastic cushion interposed between theend of the disk and the bottom of the cavity, and a clamp for forcingthe disk against its seat, substantially as described.

10. In a vibrator, a driven shaft carrying two wrist pins eachindependently adjustable with reference to the axis of the shaft so asto vibrate with a difference of phase, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. W. OSBORNE.

WVitnesses:

AMos W. HART, P. B. TURPIN.

